Education consultancy in Dubai: universities, schools and student visas

An education consultant saves you from choosing a programme that does not fit your goals, missing a deadline, or arriving without the right visa. With Nuances, you get help with:

Most international branch campuses in Dubai are in Dubai International Academic City and Dubai Knowledge Park. Before you enrol, check two things. First, whether the programme is accredited by the Commission for Academic Accreditation of the UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, or permitted by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) in Dubai. Second, whether your degree will be recognised in your home country. Brazilian students, for example, have foreign degrees revalidated in Brazil through public universities, on the Plataforma Carolina Bori.

Not every student comes for a full degree. Many come for a language course, a summer programme or a short professional course. The rules for the visa and the cost change with the length of the stay, so we plan the programme and the visa together from the start.

Universities licensed in the UAE can sponsor a student residence visa for their enrolled students. A student whose parent lives in the UAE can also be sponsored by the parent. The process includes the entry permit, the medical test and the Emirates ID biometrics, so the student must be in the UAE for part of it. Outstanding students may qualify for the UAE Golden Visa for students.

Dubai has private schools with British, American, International Baccalaureate, Indian, French and other curricula. KHDA inspects private schools every year and publishes the ratings: Outstanding, Very good, Good, Acceptable, Weak and Very weak. KHDA also publishes the approved fees of each school. Most schools start the year in August or September; Indian curricula usually start in April. Popular schools fill up early, so apply as soon as you know your move date. Your children's residence visas are sponsored by a parent with a residence visa, which you can get through your own company or a job.

Company setup in Dubai

If you want to open a training centre, a language school or an education consultancy in Dubai, the licence depends on what you will do. Activities that teach or train people in Dubai usually need KHDA approval in addition to the trade licence. Educational consultancy, such as advice, placement and enrolment support, is licensed as a consultancy activity in several free zones. We hold this activity ourselves, so we know the process from the inside.

Free zones in the UAE

Our fee depends on the programme and on how long the student will stay in Dubai, so we quote after the first consultation hour, which is free. University tuition, school fees and visa fees are paid directly to the institution or to the authority.

We are licensed in the SRTIP Free Zone (licence No. 10210), with Educational Consultancy as our first activity. We work in English and Portuguese, from Business Bay. And because we also set up companies and handle residence visas, we can plan the whole move of a family: studies, school, visas and work.